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Practical PDF Sewing Patterns

in Pattern Hack· Sewing· Sewing for Baby· Ultimate Bucket Hat· Uncategorized Leave a Comment

Ultimate Bucket Hat for Spring

I recently sewed up a UBH for my 3 month old daughter. We were planning on going for a short hike. Well GPS led us in the wrong direction so we ended up just going for a walk at the beachfront instead.

I made her version with the reversible chin strap that Gail sewed up in this video.

Super helpful for little ones so that they don’t loose their hats but please remember always under supervison only.

I added a clip at the bottom of hers.

Please see our two hat method to help with sewing yours up in Gails Sew Along videos.

Happy Sewing All!

Tash

in Beginners· Blogs by Jess· New to PDF Patterns· Sewing Leave a Comment

Sewing for mood, mental health and overall well-being

Now more than ever it is important to look after our mental and physical health. The COVID-19 global pandemic has had an unexpected impact on everyone’s lives, ranging from unemployment to being unable to travel to see loved ones interstate or overseas. In times of uncertainty and stress, sewing is something that has always been there to help me unwind, destress and relax.

Sewing has a number of benefits, one of the most important benefits of sewing is the impact it has on mental health and well-being. Read our Why you should start using PDF sewing patterns now blog post to learn about all the benefits of using PDF sewing patterns and visit our shop to find your next project. 

Sewing is mindful
In the field of psychology, dopamine is known as the “feel-good” neurotransmitter. Undertaking activities that boost dopamine in the brain can lead to living a more mindful and happy lifestyle. Activities that require focus, motivation, attention and learning have been proven to release dopamine in the brain. This means that sewing is basically a dopamine feel-good fest for our brains, which is why we always feel so good after a sewing session!

Not only does sewing boost dopamine activity in our brain, it has also been proven to elicit a calming effect on our bodies and our minds. We all lead such busy and stressful lives, and the importance of calmness is often forgotten and set aside. The art of sewing allows us to totally zone out and distract ourselves from negative thoughts and the day-to-day pressures we face. The ability to be calm and the practice of mindfulness improves emotional regulation and well-being. 

Sewing is an outlet that allows us to focus our energy into something positive and creative. Without realising, the process of sewing can actually be meditative: you focus solely on your project at hand and allow your creativity to spark and take over completely. Sewing can make us more mindful in our day-to-day lives without us even realising. It is so important for us to take time out for ourselves and pay attention to our thoughts and feelings, and sitting down with a cup of tea and your sewing machine is the perfect way to do this. 

I think we can all agree that when a friend (or even better, a complete stranger) compliments us on a piece of clothing that we’ve dedicated a significant amount of time to creating is one of the best feelings ever! Even the process of choosing a pattern and picking out a cute fabric can boost our self-esteem, and the process of finalising the project can lead to a wonderful sense of accomplishment. So what I’m saying is… the entire process of sewing is basically the best thing ever to keep our minds happy and healthy! 

Sewing is social
While sewing is thought to be a mostly solitary activity, it has actually been proven to greatly enhance our social lives and expand our networks. 

Isolation and loneliness have a significant impact on our mental and physical health. Feeling disconnected from those around us can lead to low energy, low motivation, problems with sleep, and even depressed moods. Having a hobby that helps you improve and strengthen your networks is invaluable for keeping your mind and body healthy. There are a number of sewing groups that meet up regularly, and even work on shared projects together. If you are interested in joining a sewing group, a great first step is to join the Flosstyle Fair facebook group. This group has over 8k members and is a great place to meet like minded people to get advice and discuss your sewing projects.

While the importance of having strong bonds and friendships is clear, sewing is also a great activity to do solo when you need some time and space away from everyone else.

Sewing is creative
Engaging in creativity has a positive impact on our well-being. The entire sewing journey engages our brains in creative thought. From researching different patterns to choosing seam finishes, our brains are focused, motivated and constantly learning.

On average, we have around 60,000 different thoughts in just one day: crazy right!? It’s no wonder that we can often feel weighed down and snowed under. Having a creative outlet like sewing allows us to channel our (60,000!) thoughts into one project: this has the same effect that meditation does on our brain. 

People who have been sewing for quite some time even have the ability to visualise how they will make something new, how they will fix a broken item, and how they will embellish a new project. Visualisation is a key component in keeping our minds active and leveraging off the new techniques and skills we learn as we progress in our sewing. This just further proves that having a creative outlet can improve our lives immensely. 

Sewing is therapeutic 

Not only does sewing have a positive impact on our mental health, it has also been found to impact our physical health too. 

Sewing greatly improves hand-eye coordination. For those who are new to sewing, it is clear that even threading the sewing machine can be quite fiddly and requires strict concentration. More seasoned sewers can thread a machine without blinking an eye, and can glide fabric through the machine seemingly without even paying attention. This is clear evidence of how sewing improves your hand-eye coordination the more you do it. Poor hand-eye coordination can impact every day activities such as writing, driving and exercise: this is why it’s so important to maintain strong hand-eye coordination (through sewing a super cute dress, just like our Flosstyle Lala dress pattern).

The entire process of sewing teaches us something new with each project we undertake: it is an ongoing learning journey. Constantly learning new skills and techniques keeps our brains engaged and active, which helps to prevent degenerative diseases and dementia. 

Following instructions and sticking to a clearly defined methodology allows us to keep our minds clear and focused. Give our Step by step guide blog post on how to download PDF sewing patterns a read to learn something new and boost your self esteem by creating a fabulous new creation.  

Adding even just 30 minutes of sewing to your daily routine can help you live a more mindful and healthy life. There aren’t many hobbies that are proven to improve your overall health while also giving you an opportunity to create your own clothing accessories and anything else you can imagine! Sewing is a great hobby for improving and enhancing our overall well-being (and that’s just one of the reasons why we think sewing is the absolute best!). 

Happy sewing! 
Jess

in Beginners· Free Downloads· How To· New to PDF Patterns· One Yard Tote Leave a Comment

How to use PDF sewing patterns – everything you need to know to get downloading and sewing!

If you’ve always been interested in PDF sewing patterns and wanted to know how to use them, then this is the post for you.

Here at Flosstyle we understand that downloading and using PDF sewing patterns can be daunting for some. We are here to help alleviate your anxieties and to open up a brand new world of PDF sewing patterns to you. Our blogpost “Why you should start using PDF sewing patterns now” is a must read if you’re still not quite convinced or want to learn more about the world of PDF Patterns.

We promise that you don’t have to be tech savvy to find and download amazing and creative PDF sewing patterns. Our step-by-step guide below is super easy to follow and will have you downloading PDF patterns in no time.

Step 1 

The first step to using a PDF pattern is finding the perfect pattern. If you’ve never used a PDF pattern before, we suggest trialing one of our free patterns. This post will demonstrate downloading the One Yard Tote pattern (and it will demonstrate how easy it is!). To fully get your head around PDF patterns, why not follow along with this post and download our One Yard Tote PDF pattern too. 

The One Yard Tote is a brilliant first PDF sewing pattern for you to download, assemble and sew. It’s free, it’s cute, and it’s even reversible! The One Yard Tote is perfect for carrying your groceries, books, laptop, craft items and even your swimmers for the beach. This is the perfect bag to accompany you to school, university or work as it’s perfectly sized for A4 folders and documents. All you need to create this versatile and useful bag is one yard of fabric and 2.25m of binding bias (yes that’s seriously it!).

Step 2

The second step is to download the pattern. Click on the image above and you will be linked directly to the one yard tote bag.

All you need to do is click on “add to cart”. Now click on the “view cart” button and you will see your one yard tote bag pattern in your cart. 

Next you will need to fill in some of your details and you will be able to download the pattern. 

Ta-da! The One Yard Tote PDF sewing pattern is now yours!

Step 3

The third step is something that a lot of people forget. Make sure you save your newly downloaded PDF pattern to your computer in a place that will be easy for you to find again in the future. We suggest you make a dedicated folder to save your PDF patterns in. Once you get a collection of patterns, you can create sub-folders for different types of patterns such as “dresses”, “accessories”, “toys”, and more. 

Your downloaded item will be one PDF document. This document will include clear instructions as well as the pattern itself.

Step 4 

Now that you have the PDF pattern downloaded and saved, the fourth step is to print the pattern. Our patterns provide very direct and specific advice on printing. To ensure your pattern is printed correctly please follow the instructions clearly. The most important rule to follow when printing PDF patterns is NOT to scale the print. Have a look at the image below, to see the settings we used. We kept the scaling option as “actual size”. (Depending on your printer this might also be “default” “no scaling” “100%”)

If you’re running low on ink or paper, you also have the option to print only the necessary pages (e.g. in the One Yard Tote pattern, you only need to print pages 4-6). You can keep the instructions pages open on your computer or ipad while you’re assembling the pattern and sewing.

If you don’t have access to a printer, that’s totally ok! You can ask your local print and copy shop to print off your pattern for a small fee. Officeworks charge around 10 cents for each page of printing. The One Yard Tote is a 6 page PDF, so it could cost you less than a dollar to print.

All Flosstyle patterns come with a test page to ensure the pattern has been printed correctly. Please ensure you take the time to measure the test square before you get started on the next step.

Step 5

The fifth step is to assemble the pattern. This is one of my favourite parts of the process. I love to have music playing in the background while I get completely stuck into my project (and yes before you ask, dance breaks are totally encouraged!).  

Cut the pieces out and sticky tape or glue them together. Flosstyle patterns provide clear instruction and direction so you will have no issues with knowing where to cut and where to stick the pages together. 

Step 6 

That’s it! Now it’s time to get sewing. We hope this guide has been useful and helped you feel more confident in your ability to download and assemble a PDF pattern. Don’t forget that one of the best things about PDF patterns is that you can print out as many copies of the pattern you need if you make any mistakes. 

Before you start sewing you might want to check out our One Yard Tote Timelapse Video showing how the tote is sewn together. For inspiration you can find all our blog posts about the One Yard Tote here.

We would love to see your Flosstyle creation! Join our facebook group, Flosstyle Fair and share your creations with us there. Our facebook group has over 8000 members who have a wealth of knowledge on using PDF sewing patterns and would be more than happy to help you out and answer any questions you might have. You can also share your creations on instagram with the hashtag #flosstyleoneyardtote for a chance to be featured on our page.

Happy Downloading and Sewing

Jess

in Beginners· Tutorials Leave a Comment

Why you should start using PDF sewing patterns now: A guide for beginners

Does the thought of using a PDF sewing pattern make you feel anxious?Are you worried that downloading and printing a PDF pattern is too high-tech for you? 

Let me take all your anxieties and fears away and provide you with all the tools and knowledge you need to step into the world of sewing with PDF patterns. 

Ok… but what exactly IS a PDF pattern?

A PDF pattern is just like a traditional pattern, but it’s digital! Rather than buying a physical pattern at your local craft store, or having a physical pattern shipped to your house from an online store, a PDF pattern (or digital pattern) is instantly downloaded to your computer’s hard-drive. When you download a PDF pattern from Flosstyle you will be able to download the pattern in A4, letter or A0 for some patterns. The moral of the story is, a PDF pattern is almost exactly the same as a traditional pattern, it’s just in a digital format. A PDF pattern should not be too different from the sewing patterns you are used to using.  

That makes sense… How do I buy one?

In the simplest of terms, you purchase a PDF pattern the same way you’d purchase anything online. In most cases, once you press “buy” (or something to that effect) your PDF pattern will instantly download to your computer. Some shops may also send you the PDF pattern directly to your chosen email address. To buy a Flosstyle Pattern you can visit our shop.

Ok now I’m following you, but what do I do once I’ve downloaded a PDF pattern?

Once you have the PDF pattern, it’s time to get printing! Now stay with me here, printing the PDF pattern is probably the trickiest part of using PDF patterns (and in all honesty, it isn’t actually THAT hard once you get your around it). The most important thing to remember when printing PDF patterns is to ensure the print is scaled at 100% or actual size. Your printer may give you the option to “scale to fit”… DO NOT scale to fit. As most home printers only print A4/Letter size prints, you will need to assemble the pieces together to make your full pattern. Make sure you have a glue stick or some tape handy. 

If you don’t have a printer at home don’t fret, you can get the PDF pattern printed at your local print and copy store. A professional print copy store will have industrial printers and  will be able to print your pattern on larger pieces of paper to avoid the assembly process. If you do engage the help of a print and copy store, be sure to provide them with clear instructions to scale the print at 100%, and not “scale to fit”. Now that you’re well equipped to get started with PDF patterns, let me tell why you PDF are great, and why you may never go back to traditional patterns. 

They don’t break the bank

PDF sewing patterns are often cheaper than traditional patterns purchased at craft stores. Another added benefit – no shipping fees!

The variety of patterns is endless

Can’t find anything exciting, fun or unique at your local craft store? All you need to do is a quick google search and you will find countless PDF patterns to pick from. Better yet, check out the Flosstyle Store. We have a huge catalogue of clothing items that can be made to fit newborns and adults.

Our baby carriers will have you and your baby looking stylish, feeling comfortable, and most importantly staying safe. If sewing articles of clothing isn’t your thing, Flosstyle have you covered with a range of patterns for various accessories from chair bags to wallets, and even adorable toys you can create for your baby. 

Check out a list of all our free patterns here.

You can print as many copies as you need at the touch of a button

If you’re anything like me, you may have a tendency to lose, or accidentally spill coffee on your patterns. These woes can be put behind you with PDF patterns. Lost the final piece you need to finish your project? Not a worry – just print out a new one!

Spilt a fresh pot of tea all over a freshly printed pattern? Just push the print button again and you’re back in business! You can’t say that about traditional patterns. Another benefit of being able to print as many copies of your pattern that you need? There is no longer the need to undertake the tedious process of tracing the pattern onto tracing paper, as you have unlimited copies of the pattern at your disposal. Once you’ve downloaded the PDF the pattern is yours forever, safely stored on your personal hard-drive, to use as many times as you need. 

They’re super easy to follow 

Lots of PDF patterns are made by independent designers who have the customers at the front of their mind. This means that the patterns are not only uniquely designed, but contain clear instructions and direction. Designers of PDF patterns are usually happy to answer any follow up queries or concerns you may have too.

Still not convinced? The Flossstyle online store has a number of amazing high quality FREE PDF patterns (we recommend starting with the one yard tote pattern!) that you can download for yourself, and experience the pleasure and ease of following a PDF pattern (and all before having to pull out your credit card!).

Join our facebook community, Flosstyle Fair to see beautiful finished products, and even get some hints and tips from fellow sewers. 

Supporting small and independent businesses

Independent designers put their heart and soul into creating PDF patterns (and it definitely shows!). The designer has often put hours of effort into each and every handmade design that you’re buying, and you’re directly supporting them to continue making their art. It doesn’t get more special than that. 

So now that you’re well equipped to download, print and assemble PDF patterns, and understand how amazing they are compared to traditional patterns, what are you waiting for?

Visit the Flosstyle online store to view a catalogue of high quality, easy to follow PDF sewing patterns for a range of clothing items, toys, and accessories (I recommend starting with the almost famous Ultimate Bucket Hat pattern). Enjoy your new found world of PDF patterns and let your creativity flow. 

Happy downloading and sewing!

Jess